December 2016 Newsletter

In 2016, the SFI community continued to work at the intersection of thriving forests, sustainable communities and responsible procurement. SFI has become something bigger than a certification standard--SFI is a sustainability organization that is providing supply chain assurance, elevating the conservation value of working forests and fostering community engagement.

The 2016 Interactive SFI Scorecard is a snapshot of our progress on green building recognition, conservation leadership, growth in certification, consumer recognition and label use, the SFI Forest Partners® Program, social media, conservation and community grants and much more.

SFI Participates in The Nature Conservancy of Canada's Why Forests Matter Speaker Series

The Nature Conservancy of Canada's Why Forests Matter speaker series provided three thought-provoking evenings of discussion. A panel of experts expanded on their views of Canada's forests as a resource, an inspiration and a place that sustains life.

SFI participated in this series and focused on how our shared quality of life depends on keeping forests as forests. The Huffington Post carried a SFI blog that captured the essence of what was presented in this series. Check out "You Can Love Wood And Still Be A Forest Hugger" in the Huffington Post.

SFI is proud to announce Kenauk Canada's certification to the SFI Forest Management Standard. The Kenauk Nature Reserve in Quebec, which covers more than 69,000 acres/26,000 hectares of forests and lakes, is a great example of how forests can provide multiple values focused simultaneously on conservation, recreation and economic productivity. The Kenauk Nature Reserve is owned in partnership with Kenauk Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and four local families.

A SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant is supporting research on vernal pools, in partnership with Kenauk Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Vernal pools provide important habitat for a variety of plant and wildlife species of concern, including frogs, salamanders and other amphibians and their offspring.

WBCSD Launches Video to Connect Sustainable Future with the Use of Forest Products from Responsible Sources

A two-minute video from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development explains the role of sustainable forest products in the transition to a low-carbon society. The video makes the case that reducing emissions isn't enough to address the challenge of climate change--carbon must be removed from the atmosphere. Only forests can capture carbon and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Forest products from well-managed forests can also store carbon for hundreds of years, but to ensure forests continue to fight climate change while also providing food, clean water, habitats and livelihoods, viewers are encouraged to buy products from well-managed forests certified to standards like SFI, PEFC and FSC.

In partnership with the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, SFI has engaged a wide variety of forest landowners over the course of three all-lands workshops. Chief Conservation Officer Paul Trianosky participated in a symposium at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment in 2015, and SFI has hosted two additional all-lands, large lands events since then. This workshop series, developed by SFI, USDA and the Nicholas Institute of Environmental Policy Solutions, encourages the collaboration of all landowners to achieve a common conservation goal.

2016 SFI Annual Conference Video - Live!

The large and diverse 2016 conference brought together landowners, brand owners,

conservationists, Indigenous groups, universities, community groups, government officials and others. See some of the highlights of the 2016 Annual Conference by clicking here. You might even see a familiar face or two!

Next year promises to be even better. Mark your calendars now and join us in Ottawa, Canada September 27 - 29 for the SFI 2017 Annual Conference. It will be a wonderful chance to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday during National Forest Week. The Canadian Forest Service and the Canadian Institute of Forestry are partnering with us in key sessions at the conference.

Mark your calendars for January 18, 2017 when SFI co-hosts a Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program information session with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) in Vancouver. This session will bring together Canadian companies committed to developing partnerships and opportunities with Aboriginal businesses and communities.

The SFI community is diverse and includes landowners, brandowners, conservation organizations, community groups, the public sector, universities, indigenous peoples and more.

As we continue to grow, we are excited to share not only SFI's stories but the SFI Community's news as well! Please take a few minutes to tweet and post your thoughts or send us your stories so we can share them for you:

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